Monmouth Hawks Hit Late Free Throws in 69-62 Win over NSU
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Monmouth hit its free throws late in the second half to give the host Hawks a 69-62 win over the Norfolk State women's basketball team in the Hawk Holiday Classic Thursday afternoon at the Mulipurpose Activity Center.
The Spartans used a couple of late runs to cut into Hawk deficits as the second stanza ticked down. NSU, though, could not get over the hump as the Hawks hit 7-of-8 free throws in the last minute of play to ice the win.
NSU never held the lead in the second half, but the Spartans never led the Hawks get up by more than nine points throughout the game.
Monmouth went to 4-8 on the year, while NSU fell below .500 at 5-6 despite having the edge in most statistical category. The Spartans only connected on 1-of-11 from long range (9.1 percent), and 13-of-23 from the free throw line (56.5 percent) for what was essentially the difference in the game.
Junior Batavia Owens tallied a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomore Rae Corbo was the only other Spartan in double figures with 10 points. Recca Trice had game highs of six assists and four steals.
Monmouth hit 24-of-30 from the free throw line, including 14-of-16 in the second half, and was 3-of-14 from beyond the arc. The two teams shot nearly identical from the floor, as the Spartans connected on 24-of-65 (36.9 percent), compared to 21-of-57 (36.8 percent) for the Hawks.
Chevannah Paalvast led the way with 16 points for Monmouth. Alexis Canady and Gabby Singer totaled 13 and 11, respectively.
Senior Whitney Long and junior Ebony Brown each had nine points, and junior Marian Brooks contributed eight for NSU. Long also had four assists, and sophomore Rachel Gordon grabbed six boards.
For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Coppin State Tops Boston, 59-44
BRONX, N.Y. -- Junior Shawntae Payne scored a season-high 17 points and Coppin State rode a strong second-half defensive effort to defeat Boston 59-44 on Thursday in the Eagles opening round game of the Fordham Holiday Classic.
The Eagles, who halted a six-game losing streak with the victory, advance to the championship game against Fordham at 3 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 30).
Payne finished the game 7-of-14 from the floor and was 2-of-2 from the free throw line to pace the Eagles. She also added three assists and three rebounds.
Senior Crystal Whittington grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and Dawnnae Roberts added nine points.
For the complete story, visit www.coppinstateeagles.com
Strong First Half Defense Not Enough As UMES Falls To Wake Forest 77-45
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Despite a strong first half defensive effort by the Lady Hawks, allowing just 25 points in the first 20 minutes, UMES fell to Wake Forest 77-45 at the Joel Coliseum on Thursday.
Chelsea Sanders led the Lady Hawks with 11 points and four steals, adding four rebounds and a pair of blocks. Adobi Agbasi finished with six points, three blocks and two assists, while Kwinnyata Mercer had seven rebounds for UMES, adding six points.
Erin Hall went 4-9 from the perimeter, finishing with a team leading 16 points. Sandra Garcia got 12 points off 5-5 shooting and eight rebounds, with Brooke Thomas finishing with 10 assists and four boards.
For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
King Continues Solid Play, Aggies Fall to Georgia Tech
DULUTH, Ga.- North Carolina A&T had to play Thursday's game against an excellent Georgia Tech team without its starting backcourt of Amber Calvin and Mikala Scott. The Aggies couldn't overcome the disadvantage in a 74-57 loss to the Yellow Jackets at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Sophomore guard Tracy King celebrated her birthday by scoring 23 points. The Aggies lost their fifth straight and slipped to 1-6 on the road this season. The Aggies (6-7, 1-0 MEAC) struggled with scoring droughts and had 28 turnovers in their loss to the Yellow Jackets (10-3, 0-0 ACC). But their defense, which included 13 steals, seven blocks and 19 defensive rebounds, impressed head coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs.
King's scoring output was her third 20-plus point game of the season and fourth of her career. JaQuayla Berry collected all 16 of her points in the second half.
For the complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com
SC State Close 2011 Calendar Year with a One Point Loss to Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Fla.-SC State closed out the 2011 calendar year with a one point loss, 67-68, to Jacksonville University. The contest was the first game in nine days for the Lady Bulldogs who fell to 5-6 on the season.
The teams exchanged the lead to start the second half with Jacksonville taking the two point advantage, 51-49, at the first media timeout (14:38). SC State then increased its lead to six, 60-54, at the 10:08 mark. The Lady Bulldogs maintained the intensity, pushing its lead to eight, 65-57, with 3:53 remaining in the contest. Jacksonville went on a 6-0 run over the next minute to pull within two, 63-65. A driving layup by the Dolphins Abril Peeples tied the game at 65-65 with 1:19 remaining. The teams exchanged baskets once again before a free-throw by Crystal Bell with 5.6 seconds remaining gave the Dolphins the one point lead, 68-67, and the victory.
Junior Tiara Knotts scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the first half for the Lady Bulldogs. Tracey Flowers dropped in 12 points and Cabriel Duren contributed 10 in the contests. Junior Tiana Hemphill finished pulled in 14 rebounds in the loss.
Jacksonville, who won just its second game of the season, was led by Abril Peeples with 17 points. Crystal Bell scored 13 and Tracie Seed had a double-double, 11 points-13 rebounds.
For the complete story, visit www.scsuathletics.com
Lady Pirates Fall To Tulane In Doubletree Title Game
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Hampton fell Thursday night in the championship game of the DoubleTree Classic, as host Tulane won the game and the title 66-53 at Fogelman Arena.
The Lady Pirates (9-3) have lost two of their last three games, but have still won 33 of their last 39 games dating back to last season.
Senior guard Jericka Jenkins led the way with 28 points despite 7-for-22 shooting. She hit three of her nine 3-pointers and all 11 free throws, while also dishing out seven assists. Junior forward Ariel Phelps poured in eight points to go along with a team-high 10 rebounds.
Both Jenkins and Phelps were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Lady Pirates shot 29.8 percent (17-for-57) from the floor and made five of their 14 3-pointers, while also hitting 14 of their 18 free throws. Hampton also scored 14 points off of 15 Tulane turnovers.
The Green Wave (11-2) shot 41.8 percent (23-for-55) from the floor and out-rebounded the Lady Pirates 47-31. Tulane scored 28 points in the paint, compared to just 18 such points for the Lady Pirates.
Hampton is 0-3 this season when being out-rebounded.
Olivia Grayson, the Tournament MVP, led Tulane with 26 points - 24 of which came in the second half - while Benzio added 21 points and a team-high 13 rebounds.
For the complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com
Lady Bears blow 10-point lead; Fall to Holy Cross in Consolation Game, 73-66
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (Dec. 29, 2011)-Just when Morgan State thought its seven-game losing skid was about to be over the Lady Bears found a way to blow a 10-point second half lead and fall to Holy Cross, 73-66 in the consolation game of the Miami Holiday Classic on Thursday evening at the BankUnited Center.
DeKeisha Mathis scored on a layup with 14 seconds remaining, giving the Lady Bears a 66-63 advantage. But on the ensuing inbound, Holy Cross beat Morgan State's full court press and after several passes around the arc, Alex Smith was wide open at the top of the key and drained her fifth 3-pointer of the game to even the score at 66 and force overtime.
The Crusaders (7-6) were led by Smith and Amy Lepley, who both scored a game-high 19 points. Lepley added a team-high 10 rebounds to record a double-double, while Brisje Malone fell shy of a triple-double, finishing with a game-high 11 assists, 10 points and eight rebounds to help Holy Cross take third-place.
Morgan State (2-9), which last season took runner-up honors after reaching the championship game of the Miami Classic, was led by Whitney Southerland, who came off the bench and scored 16 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Mathis tied Southerland for team-high honors of 16 points, while Omara Parker added 12 points, eight rebounds and had a game-high five steals. Amarah Williams recorded her first double-double of the season, totaling 10 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in the loss.
For the complete story, visit www.morganstatebears.com